Load packing mechanism for carriers



May 15, 1962 E. R. BARRETT LOAD PACKING MECHANISM FOR CARRIERS Filed Sept; 22, 1958 8 Sheets-Shem: 1

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INVENTOR.

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LOAD PACKING MECHANISM FOR CARRIERS Filed Sept. 22, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 226 R 58 66 60 INVENTOR.

ArraezvcVS May 15, 1962 E. R. BARRETT LOAD PACKING MECHANISM FOR CARRIERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Sept. 22, 1958 IN V EN TOR. Eula/ 42 f? Ba m @92 2 nite 3,034,672 LOA-D PACKING MEQHANISM FUR CARRIER Edward R. Barrett, Evanston, Ill. (555 Chetwood Ave, Oakland, Calif.) Filed Sept. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 762,495 1% Claims. (Cl. 214-402) given truck to service a larger and/or a more populous area. In order to thus keep ton mile costs at a minimum by increasing truck capacity, truck bodies have been lengthened and various means employed for compacting the bulk material into the truck bodies in order to reduce the volume of the received bulk material, volume, rather than weight, generally being the limiting factor with respect to vehicle capacity.

Rear loading vehicles have been found satisfactory for refuse disposal and are widely used for this purpose. However, such vehicles are limited in their capacity according to the ability of the loading means to distribute the received bulk material forwardly of the body and to compact same effectively. This is particularly true in the case of those vehicles which employ floor level rear end loading, due to the tendency of the refuse within the body to pyramid or hump, making the forward forcing and distribution of the refuse within the body increasingly difficult.

It is an object of this invention to provide a load packing mechanism which will prevent this objectionable humping or pyramiding of the load as the truck body is being charged and this purpose is accomplished by the use of means to effect high level loading of the carrier.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for the compacting of the load material as received and to force it forwardly of the truck body to the end that it may be more effectively filled.

it is still another object to provide a mechanism of the character described adapted to employ double acting ram means for the receipt and guidance of refuse into the body of a vehicle and for compacting and forceably distributing the same in said body.

It is a further object to provide a mechanism as above described adapted for use with ram means which include separately actuated upper and lower rams arranged to coact in the loading of bulk material into a vehicle body.

Still another object is the provision of a mechanism of the kind hereinabove described in which the ram means are adapted to serve the additional function of acting as a forwardly and downwardly inclined tailgate to retain the load in its compacted condition.

Another object is to provide a container adapted for the handling of bulk materials by a loading mechanism of the type here-inabove mentioned which container is adapted for hoisting and automatic discharge of its contents into the body of an associated vehicle. Such a container is particularly useful for industrial applications wherein the containers may be spotted at miscellaneous locations and their contents periodically discharged into a servicing or pick-up refuse truck, thus obviating the necessity of hauling the containers themselves considerable distances to a dumping point and return.

A further object is to provide an eifective combination of pick-up refuse container and loading mechanism 3,034,672 Patented May 15, 1962 whereby the two are coordinated to facilitate the hauling truck body loading operation with substantial elimination of the spilling or refuse during the loading operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FEGURE l is a view in perspective of the rearward end of a refuse truck embodying the load packing mechanism of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partly in section, illustrating the detail of the actuating means for the upper or auxiliary ram;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the mechanism shown in FIGURE '2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in side elevation of the hoist means in its down position to lift a refuse container;

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view in side elevation showing the hoist means in its up or elevated position supporting a refuse box :for discharge;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view in vertical section through the main and auxiliary rams and the refuse container, the latter being positioned for discharge as in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a view in section taken on the line 99 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a detailed sectional view of the latching means;

FiGURES 11 and 12 are detailed views illustrating the operation of the latching means for the refuse container bottom gate, and

FIGURES 13, 14 and 15 are views in section, showing the sequence of operations in effecting discharge of the contents of the refuse container and compaction thereof in the carrier body.

In FIGURE 1 is shown a refuse truck 16 having an enclosed ref-use carrying body 18 open at its rear end and carried by a wheel supported chassis 20. The body 18 is pivotally secured to the chassis as at 2 2 for elevation and rear end dumping through the action of the hydraulic piston and cylinder hoist assemblies 24 disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle and pivotally connected at their lower ends to brackets 26 dependent from the sides of the chassis 2% and at their upper ends to the sides of the body 18 as at 28.

An end gate or supporting assembly 30 having side support members 32 is pivotally mounted at its upper end, as at 34, to the rear upper edge of the body 13 abutting marginal sealing means 36 secured thereto (see FIGURE 3) and is adapted to pivot away from the body 18 through the action of hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 38 to permit dumping of refuse therefrom when the body is hoisted to its dumping position.

As will be seen in FIGURE 1 a hoist mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 42, is carried by the end gate assembly 30 and adapted to pick up a refuse box or container 40 and elevate it for discharge of its contents into the truck body 18, through the operation of the mechanisms about to be described.

The end gate side support members 32 are comprised of side walls 44 aligned with the corresponding adjacent body side walls and reinforced by peripheral framing means 46. The members 32 are fixedly secured together at their lower ends by a transverse I-beam 48 (FIGURES 2 and 8) and at their upper ends by a transverse Z-beam member 5t! and a roof 52 of arcuate contour fixedly secured thereto (as shown in FIGURES 8 and 13). A- tie rod 54 is employed to interconnect the side support members 32 and is passed through the upper ends of a plurality of stiffener members 56 secured at spaced intervals on the I-beam 48, to thus strengthen and give the requisite rigidity to this particular assembly.

The end gate 30 is releasably secured by a pair of hook members 58 pivotally secured to I-bearn 48 as at 60 to engage either end of chassis channel member 62, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 8, and actuated manually or by conventional means (not shown) tied into the body dumping system.

In FIGURE 4 is shown the means for hoisting the refuse container 40 to the elevated discharge position of FIGURES 6 and 8, comprising a pair of trusses 64 respectively mounted for pivotal movement at opposite ends of cross shaft 66 journaled in bushings 68 secured to the lower ends of the end gate side walls 44 and in stiffener members 56. Inasmuch as the trusses 64 and the members associated therewith are similar, the following description with respect to one truss will sufiice for both. The truss 64 is comprised of tubular legs 70 and 72, disposed in angular relation and rigidly connected to each other through a gusset 74. A diagonal tubular member 76 extends between the outer ends of the legs 70 and 72 being rigidly secured to leg 72, as by welding, and to leg 70 by a gusset 78. Completing the truss 64 is an intermediate tubular member 80 rigidly attached at one end, both to leg 70 and gusset 74, and at its other end to member 76 by a yoke 82 disposed intermediate the ends of member 76.

The truss members 64 thus described carry the refuse box engaging members together with associated linkages which are best understood by an examination of FIG- URES 4, 6 and 8. Strap members 84 are typically shown secured, as by welding, at either side of truss leg 72 and are straddled by a pair of bell crank members 86 pivotally secured thereto through pin 88, carried at one end of transverse tubular tie member 90, FIGURE 5, and by a pair of elbow support members 92 pivotally secured to the strap members 84 at their rearward ends through pin 94. Bell crank members 86 and elbow support members 92 are interconnected through a pair of straddling strap links 96 pivotally connected to support members 92 by pin 98 and to members 86 by pin 100. A flange 102, FIGURE 5, extends inwardly from an inner support member 92 and a parallel action locking link 104, FIGURES 4 and 6, having a pair of semi-circular notches 106 therein, is secured to said inner support memher 92 through arms 108 and 110 pivotally connected to the locking link 104 through pins 112 and to the support member 92 through pins 114. An aperture 116 is provided in arm 108 being positioned for alignment with similar apertures 118 in elbow support members 92 for receipt of a manually inserted locking pin 120. The support members 92 associated with each truss are fixedly tied to each other by transverse rod 122 secured to upwardly inclined arms 124 and such members 92 are in turn tied by such rod to the corresponding members of the opposite truss. Tubular member 90, FIGURE 5, and transverse box member 126, FIGURE 6, the latter rigidly secured to the truss legs 70 and reinforced by diagonal members 128, rigidly tie the trusses together. The bell crank members 86 are connected to peripheral framing means 46 through a tie link 130, the latter being straddled by and pivotally secured to the bell crank members through pin 132 and to the peripheral framing means through pin 134, FIGURE 6.

Balanced actuation for the above described hoist means is provided by a pair of piston and cylinder assemblies 136 symmetrically disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of the truck body inwardly of the end gate side walls 44. These assemblies, which are preferably of hydraulic type and tied into the body dumping system, are each pivotally connected at one end to tie rod 54 and at the other end to transverse box member 126, connection to the latter being through a pin 138 journaled in yoke 140 secured to member 126.

In FIGURE 4 rectangularly shaped refuse container 40 is shown with vertical front and rear walls 142 and 144, and vertical side walls 146 and 148, the latter spaced apart a suitable distance to permit their alignment with side walls 44 of end gate assembly 30 when container 40 is positioned for discharge as in FIGURE 8. The container is open at the top for the receipt of refuse and closed at the bottom by a gate 150 and is provided with pairs of spaced apart lift pins 152 secured, as by welding, to the container side walls 146 and 148 and extending outwardly therefrom. The container front wall 142 near its lower end angles downwardly to the rear having formed at its lower extremity a flange 154 which inclines downwardly to the front and which is contoured to permit a close sealing fit between it and the container gate 150 when the latter is in closed position. The gate 150 is hingedly secured at its rearward end to the container 40 through cross shaft 156 journaled at either end in corner mounted container supporting legs 158 and is reinforced by underlying rib members 160. The front or leading edge portion 162 of the gate 150 is downwardly curved as are those portions of the rib members underlying same. Skirts 164 of sector shape extend upwardly from either side of the gate 150 to embrace the container side walls. An inclined rectangular plate 166 extends across the rear end of the container 40 being fixedly secured at its upper edge to the container rear wall 144 and at its lower edge riding freely upon the upper surface 168 of gate 150. Spring biased latch means 170, presently to be described, releasably secure the gate in closed position.

In FIGURES 2, 3 and 8 are shown the ram means which comprise an upper or auxiliary ram 172 and a lower or main ram 174 carried upon I-beam 48 adjacent the open rear end of the body 18 and extending substantially the entire distance between the end gate side walls 44 to serve not only as ramming means, but also as tailgate means for effecting body end closure. as hereinafter explained. Lower ram 174 includes a biangular face plate 176 of rectangular shape in plan form rearwardly curved at its upper end. Secured to the back of face plate 176 are transverse side members 180 and a reinforcing grid comprised of longitudinal reinforcing double box member 178 and intermediate transverse reinforcing members 182. Ram 174 is carried for pivotal movement upon shaft 66 through members 182, said shaft being journaled for rotation in bushings 186 secured to the side members 180 and journaled in the spaced stiffener members 56. Upper ram -172 comprises a biangular face plate 188 of rectangular shape in plan form having a reinforcing angular lip stiffener 190 extending the width thereof. The ram 172 has secured at its back side transverse side members 194 and a reinforcing grid comprised of a longitudinal trapezoidal reinforcing member 192 and intermediate transverse reinforcing members 196. Ram -172 is secured to lower ram 174 for pivotal movement relative thereto through flanged pins 198 extending through brackets 200 and 202, respectively, secured to members 192 and 178, and through pins 204 extending through brackets 206 secured to member 178, and projecting concave contoured members 208 secured to the rearward side of upper ram 172. The lower end of upper ram face plate 188 overlaps the curved upper end of lower ram face plate 176, the two face plates thus forming at all times a substantially continuous front or skidway surface.

In FIGURE 8 are shown the piston and cylinder assemblies 210 and 212, respectively, utilized in pairs for actuating the upper and lower rams. Lower ram actuating piston and cylinder assemblies 212, like those associated with the hoist means, are preferably hydraulic and tied into the trucks dumping system being positioned immediately inward of the hoist means piston and cylinder assemblies 136 and symmetrically disposed with respect to the transverse axis of the ram 174 to provide balanced ram actuation. Piston and cylinder assemblies 212 are pivotally connected at their rearward ends to tie rod 54, FIGURE 8, and at their forward ends to the lower ram 174 through pins 214 journaled in bushings 216, in turn fixedly secured to transverse reinforcing members 182. Upper ram actuating piston and cylinder assemblies 210 are disposed immediately inward of piston and cylinder assemblies 212 being symmetrically disposed with respect to the transverse axis of the ram 172 for balanced ram actuation and are carried at their lower ends for pivotal movement upon bushings 213 fixedly secured to stilfeners 56 and at their upper ends pivotally secured to the upper ram 172 through pin 220 journaled in bushings 222 secured to contoured members 208.

There is shown in FIGURE 8, the gate control means which comprises an elongated gate control arm 224 mounted for pivotal movement centrally of I-bearn 48 through pin 226 journaled in straddling brackets 228 secured to said I-beam. A bell crank member 230 is pivotally secured to the upper extremity of the gate control arm 224 and carries upon arm 232 a roller 234. A screw 236 is provided for pivotal adjustment of the bell crank member 230 and its roller 234. A tie link 23% connects arm 224 with auxiliary ram 174 through pins 240 and 242.

Illustrated in FIGURES 10, 1 1 and 12 are the latch means utilized for securing the container gate 150 which comprise a pair of hook members: 244 disposed at opposite sides of the forward end of the container 40 and depending from shafts 246 journaled in the adjacent container side walls 146 and 148 and in spaced apart brackets 248 secured to the inclined front container wall member 250. Torsion springs 25.2 are disposed about each of the shafts 246, being secured at one end 254 to container member 250 and at the other end to hook memher 244 through right angle bend 256. Hubs 258 of the hook members 244 are adapted to bear in rotation against outer brackets 248. As shown in FIGURE 11, the hook members 244 are urged by springs 252 to pivot into engagement with angular members 260 secured to the container gate 150 for the purpose of effecting gate restraint. Gate unlatching, illustrated in FIGURE 12, and effected through engagement of hook members 244 by the stop member 50, will be explained hereinafter in connection with the description of operation.

In operation the truck 16, with the rear end of the body 18 closed by forwardly positioned main and auxiliary rams 174 and 172 and the end gate assembly 30 locked closed by hook members 58, is first positioned just ahead of a refuse container 40 with the hoist means lowered through operation of piston and cylinder assemblies 136 to a pickup position approximating that shown in FIGURE 4 with elbow support members 92 engaging the lift pins 152 of the container. The notched locking links 104 at either side of the container 40 are then manually moved into looking position over the pins 152 and are themselves locked in position by manual insertion of pins 120 through apertures 116 and 118, aligned with each other by movement of the locking links 104 into locking position. The piston and cylinder assemblies 136 are thereupon actuated through control means (not shown) to raise the refuse container 40 by effecting the counterclockwise rotation, as viewed in FIGURE 4, of truss members 64 with the linkage means comprised of elbow support members 92, bell crank members 86, links 96 and tie links 130' acting to effect a forward tilt of the container 40 when the latter is elevated to the discharge position of FIGURE 6. Such linkage means, in effecting the forward tilt in the container 40, permits a minimum of container tilt between the pickup and container discharge positions.

As the refuse container 40 reaches the elevated discharge position adjacent the upper end of end gate assembly 30 with its side walls 146 and 14-8 aligned with the corresponding adjacent end gate side walls 44, the piston and cylinder assemblies 136 are de-actuated by control means (not shown) and hook members 262, pivotally secured by pins 264 at either side of end gate 30 actuated by means (not shown) to engage pins 266 secured to the links to thereby maintain the hoist means and the container 40 in elevated position and prevent any settling thereof. The Z-beam stop member 50 engages the forward edges of the hook members 244, as shown in FIGURE 12, forcing them to rotate rearwardly against the bias of torsion springs 252 and out of engagement with angular members 2611 of the gate 150, the stop member 50 thereafter abuttingly engaging flange 154 of the container 4%), as shown in FIGURE 8. At such time the container gate although unlatched, is nevertheless maintained closed through the action of roller 234 in engaging a central rib member of the container gate 150.

With positioning of the refuse container 40 for discharge, the piston and cylinder assemblies 210 are actuated by control means (not shown) to pivot the upper or auxiliary ram 172 rearwardly to its fully extended position, shown in FIGURE 13 and in phantom outline in FIGURES 8 and 12, the nose of the lip stiffener 191) overlapping the curved leading edge 162 of the container gate 1%. The auxiliary ram 172 is thereby positioned for coaction with gate 150 forming, in conjunction with lower ram 174, a continuous skidway for the contents of the container 40', discharged as the gate is progressively opened through subsequent operation of the gate control means, described below.

After the full rearward extension of auxiliary ram 172 to the position of FIGURE 13, piston and cylinder assemblies 210 are de-actuated and piston and cylinder assemblies 212 actuated through control means (not shown), the latter assemblies causing the lower or main ram to pivot rearwardly which at the same time effects the rearward pivotal movement of the gate control arm 224 through the link 238. With roller 234 tracking upon the lower edge of central rib member 16% as mm 224 pivots rearwardly, FIGURE 14, the container gate 150 is caused to progressively open, pivoting downward until reaching the full open position of FIGURE 15. The auxiliary ram 172 at the same time is permitted by its actuating piston and cylinder assemblies 211} to pivot freely, but is held against the upper surface of the container gate 150 by the refuse in the container as it gravitates downward to discharge over the continuous skidway surface formed by plate 166, container gate 150, face plate 188 of ram 172 and face plate 176 of ram 174. Ram 172, in effect, executes a wiping action as it moves over the upper surface 168 of the container gate 150. This movement of the auxiliary ram 172 over the gate, it should be noted, is facilitated by the cooperative action of the downwardly curved leading edge of the gate and the inclined rearward surface of angular lip stiffener 190. Side spillage of the refuse intermediate the container 40 and the side walls 44 of the end gate 39 is prevented by the upstanding wings 164 which pivot downwardly with the gate 154 to define a discharge trough therebetween.

During such high level discharge of the container 49, the contents are at all times effectively directed into the truck body through a chute or throat defined at the lower end by the skidway forming main and auxiliary rams 172 and 174 coacting with the gate 150; at the top by the curved end gate roof 52; and at the sides by the container gate wings 164 and the aligned side walls of the body 18, the end gate 30, and the container 40. Container discharge is therefore quick and effective.

With completion of the container emptying operation, the compacting and forcing of the discharge refuse into the truck body 18 begins. Piston and cylinder assemblies 212 are caused by control means (not shown) to pivot the main ram 174 forwardly to compact and force the refuse charge into the body 18. The main ram 174 is particularly effective in compacting the refuse by virtue of exertion of a downward force thereon in the direction of the body floor 268, the ram 174 in the latter stages of its forward movement thus inclining substantially forward from the vertical as shown in FIGURE 13. Further, the forward inclination of the main ram 174 with its resultant force downwardly applied toward the truck body floor 268, effectively reduces the humping or pyramiding of refuse in the body 18 and the resistance to the forward movement of refuse associated therewith. In this connection it may be noted that by pivoting the ram 174 about its lower extremity the maximum available force for compacting and forcing the refuse forwardly of the body is applied where most needed, i.e., in the area of the body floor 268 where the resistance to forward movement is naturally the greatest. Also, the forwardly inclined retracted or ramming position of the ram 174 facilitates retention of the loaded refuse within the body, reducing the possibility of refuse drop back upon extension of the ram to receive another charge.

As the main ram 174 pivots forwardly, the upper ram 172 is permitted to move freely in a wiping action over the upper surface 168 of the container gate 150 in a fashion similar to that occurring during main ram extension, but in an opposite direction. At the same time, the gate control arm 224 is caused to pivot forwardly with the main ram 174, and roller 234 caused to track upon the lower edge of a central rib member 160 in effecting progressive closure of the container gate 150. Thus, with return of the main ram 174 to its terminal forward retracted or ramming position, in which position it effects closure of the lower portion of the rear end of the truck body 18, the upper ram reassumes the fully extended position of FIGURE 13, the ram lip stiffener 190 lapping the extreme leading edge of the gate 150 maintained closed by roller 234.

Upon complete retraction of the main ram 174 and de-actuation of piston and cylinder assemblies 212 by means (not shown), the auxiliary ram 172 is pivoted forward through the action of piston and cylinder assemblies 210, actuated by control means (not shown), to compact and force the remainder of the discharged refuse forwardly of the truck body 18. Spillage of the refuse to the rear over the lip of the ram 172 during its retraction is prevented by the concentric arrangement of ram 172 and roof 52 and the minimum clearance provided therebetween for ram sweep.

As in the case of the main ram 174, the auxiliary ram 172 is particularly effective in compacting, forcing and retaining the receipted refuse forwardly of the truck body due to the location of ram pivotal support at its lower extremity and the forward inclination assumed by the ram in the latter stages of its forward movement, illustrated in FIGURE 8.

After full retraction of the auxiliary ram to complete the compacting and loading operation together with the effecting of complete body rear end closure, the piston and cylinder assemblies 210 are de-actuated, hook members 262 are released and the piston and cylinder assemblies 136 actuated-all by means (not shown) to cause the hoist means truss members 64 to pivot clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 8, to lower the container 40. The container flange 154 and the hook members 244 are thereby moved out of engagement with Z-beam stop member t) which permits relatching of the gate 150 by the hook members 244 urged into gate restraining positions of engagement with angular members 260 by the torsion springs 252. The gate control arm 224 through its roller 234 serves to maintain the gate in closed position until the above latching operation is effected. The container 40 is thereafter lowered to the ground pick-up position of FIGURE 4 from whence the body loading operation began. The locking pins 120 are manually withdrawn and the notched locking bars'4 manually lifted out of engagement with lift pins 152 as shown in phantom outline in FIGURE 4, thus permitting the truck 16 to move the container straddling support members 92 forwardly from their sup-. port positions beneath the pins 152. The loading mechanism is then ready for the pick-up and discharge of another container.

The specific means of control for effecting the above operations have not been set forth inasmuch as a variety of means well known in the art may be utilized for achieving these operations in the sequence described, such control means obviously forming no part of this invention.

Although the load packing mechanism or this lnvention has been described relative to a truck for refuse disposal, it should be understood that its use is not necessarily limited thereto, butmay be extended to include the handling of other bulk materials. It will be appreciated that the embodiment of this invention as herein described may be altered, changed or modified without departing from the scope of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bulk materials vehicle having an enclosed dump body open at the rear end and an end gate pivotally mounted thereto, a container for bulk materials having a bottom opening gate, latch means for releasably securing said container gate, hoist means carried by the end gate for pivotal movement adapted to engage and lift the container to a discharge position adjacent the end gate, actuating means for the hoist means, ram means secured near their lower extremities to the end gate for pivotal movement between extended or receiving positions in which the ram means coact with the container gate, when open, to form a substantially continuous skidway inclined downwardly in the direction of the open rear end of the body for receipt and guidance of the bulk material contents of the container into said body, and retracted or ramming positions in which the ram means compact and force the received bulk material into the body, actuating means for the ram means, and gate control means for opening and closing the container gate in response to extension and retraction of the ram means, respectively.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the end gate includes a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart side walls, each substantially aligned with corresponding adjacent side walls of the body, said end gate side walls being fixedly tied together by a roof, and wherein the ram means include an upper ram and a lower ram positioned side to side and pivotally interconnected, said rams extending substantially the entire distance between the end gate side walls and being adapted to move therebetween and beneath said end gate roof during pivotal movement of the ram means such that they coact to form said skidway and a substantially continuous ramming face.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the container is of substantially rectangular shape having side walls so spaced as to permit their respective alignment with corresponding adjacent side walls of the end gate when the container is elevated to the position for discharge, and wherein the container gate is provided with wings extending upwardly therefrom to embrace the sides of the container, said wings moving with the gate to define, with the adjacent side walls of the end gate, the lateral limits of said skidway.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the roof is provided with a member adapted to automatically effect release of the gate latch means when the container is lifted by the hoist means into discharge position, the gate control means thereupon serving to maintain the container gate in closed position prior to extension of the ram means.

5. In a refuse truck having a pivotally mounted enclosed dump body open at the rear end, an end gate pivotally secured at its upper end to the dump body adjacent the open rear end thereof and having a pair of spaced apart side walls rigidly tied together near their lower ends by a transverse member, a refuse container open at its upper end for the receipt of refuse and having a pivotally mounted bottom opening gate for effecting discharge of the container contents, latch means for releasably securing said container gate in closed position, hoist means pivotally carried by the transverse member in straddling relationship with the end gate side walls adapted to engage and lift the container to a position adjacent the end gate for discharge of the container contents therethrough into the dump body, actuating means for the hoist means, a lower ram connected for pivotal movement to said transverse member and an upper ram, each of said rams extending transversely of the dump body between the end gate side walls and being pivotally secured to one another at adjacent edges, said rams being adapted to pivot rearwardly into extended positions for the receipt and direction of the contents of the refuse container into the open rear end of the truck body and being adapted to pivot forwardly into retracted positions to compact and force said refuse into the truck body, separate actuating means for each of the rams, and gate control means for effecting opening and closing of the gate of the refuse container in response to the extension and retraction of the ram means when said container is in elevated discharge position.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the upper ram with rearward pivotal movement is adapted to overlap the front portion of the container gate as the latter is opened by the gate control means, and wherein the front face of the lower ram and the front face of the upper ram at all times form a substantially continuous surface, said rams thereby forming a continous ramming face for compacting and forcing said contents into the dump body and forming with the container gate, as the latter is opened, a continuous skidway for direction of the contents of the container into the dump body.

7. The combination of claim 5, wherein the respective actuating means for the upper and lower rams include pairs of piston and cylinder assemblies disposed inwardly of the end gate side walls in symmetrical relationship with the transverse axes of the rams for balanced actuation of the rams, and wherein the actuating means for the hoist means includes a pair of piston and cylinder assemblies disposed inwardly of the end gate side walls in symmetrical relationship with the longitudinal axis of the dump body for balanced actuation of the hoist means.

8. In a vehicle having an enclosed body wherein an end gate is mounted upon said body and ram means are supported by the end gate for pivotal extension for receipt and direction of bulk material into the body andfor pivotal retraction for thereafter compacting and forcing said bulk material into the body and wherein gate control means are provided to move with the ram means, in combination therewith, a container of generally rectangular shape open at the top for the receipt of bulk material and closed at the bottom by a gate pivotally secured at its rear end to the container and adapted to pivotally open downward to effect container discharge when the container is positioned therefor adjacent said end gate, the forward end of the container gate being of downwardly curved contour to facilitate the overlapping thereof by said ram means as the ram means extends to coact with the container gate in forming a substantially continuous skidway for direction of the container contents into the vehicle body and to effect the pivotal opening of said container gate through the action of the gate control means as the latter moves with said ram means.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein wings extend upwardly from either side of the container gate being disposed outwardly of the side walls of the container, said wings serving to prevent side spillage of bulk material from the container gate with opening thereof by the gate control means.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the container front wall at its lower end angles downwardly to the rear having secured at its lower extremity a flange adapted for sealing engagement with the upper surface of the container gate when the latter is closed and wherein the container gate is provided with an underlying rib member adapted for engagement by the gate control means as said gate control means effects the opening and closing of the container gate.

ll. In a vehicle having an enclosed body open at the rear end to which is attached an end gate with its side walls in alignment with corresponding adjacent sine walls of the vehicle body, said end gate having fixedly secured between the upper ends of its side walls a roof and a stop member and between the lower ends of its side walls a support member upon which are carried ram means for pivotal movement about their lower extremities between rearward extended receiving positions and forward retracted ramming positions, in combination therewith, a container of generally rectangular shape open at the top for receipt of bulk material and closed at the bottom by a gate pivotally attached at its rearward end to the container, said container being adapted for lifting to a discharge position immediately adjacent the rear of the end gate roof abutting the stop member with its side walls aligned with the corresponding adjacent side Walls of the end gate and its bottom gate positioned to coact with the ram means in forming a substantially continuous skidway for guidance of the container contents into the body of the vehicle, the gate of the container being downwardly curved at its forward end to facilitate its progressive overlapping with the ram means as the latter moves thereover in a wiping action with the opening of the gate and extension of the ram means.

12. In a load carrying vehicle having an enclosed body with an opening therein for the receipt of bulk materials, support means secured to the body adjacent said opening, a container for bulk material having a bottom opening gate for effecting discharge of the container contents when said container is positioned for discharge adjacent said support means, latch means for releasably securing the gate, hoist means carried by the support means adapted to engage and lift the container upwardly to a position for discharge, actuating means for the hoist means, ram means carried by the support means for pivotal movement between an extended or receiving position with the upper end of the ram means displaced from the body for receipt and guidance of the bulk material contents of the con tainer into the body through the opening therein and a retracted or ramming position in which the received bulk material is compacted and forced into the body by the ram means, the ram means at the same time efiecting a closure of the body opening, said ram means comprising a lower ram pivotally supported at its lower end by the sup-port means and an upper ram pivotally secured at its lower end to the upper end of the lower ram, means for actuating the ram means, and gate control means for opening and closing the gate in response to extension and retraction of the ram means as effected by the ram actuating means, which latter includes separate means for respectively actuating the upper and lower rams such that the upper ram is first pivoted rearwardly to overlap the front edge of the container gate whereupon the lower ram is pivoted rearwardly actuating the gate control means to effect opening of the gate, the upper and lower rams coacting to form a skidway for directing the container contents in to the truck body, whereafter the lower ram is first caused to pivot forwardly of the vehicle body with the gate control means effecting closure of the container gate, the upper ram thereupon pivoting forwardly to compact and ram the remainder of the said contents forwardly of the body.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the support means includes spaced apart side walls and a roof rigidly secured therebetween having a concave inner contour 11 concentric with the path of pivotal movement of the upper ram, and wherein said roof and side walls with the upper and lower ram form a throat for directing the container contents into the body.

14. In a load carrying vehicle having a body with an opening therein for the receipt of bulk material, support means secured to the body adjacent said opening, a container for bulk materials having a bottom opening gate for effecting discharge of the container contents when said container is positioned for discharge adjacent said support means, latch means for releasably securing the gate, hoist means carried by the support means and adapted to engage and lift the container upwardly to a position for discharge, actuating means for the hoist means, ram means carried by the support means for pivotal movement between an extended or receiving position with the upper end of the ram means displaced from the body for receipt and guidance of the bulk material contents of the container into the body through the opening therein and a retracted or ramming position in which the received bulk material is compacted and forced into the body by the ram means, said ram means comprising a lower ram pivotally supported at its lower end by the support means and an upper ram pivotally secured at its lower end to the upper end of the lower ram, means for actuating the ram means, and gate control means for opening and closing the gate in response to extension and retraction of the ram means as effected by the ram actuating means, which latter includes separate means for respectively actuating the upper and lower rams such that the upper ram is first pivoted outwardly to overlap the front edge of the container gate whereupon the lower ram is pivoted outwardly actuating the gate control means to effect opening of the gate, the upper and lower rams thereupon coacting to form a skidway for directing the container contents into the truck body whereafter the lower ram is first caused to pivot inwardly with the gate control means effecting closure of the container gate, the upper ram thereupon pivoting inwardly to compact and ram the remainder of the said contents into the body.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the support means includes a stop member adapted to effect and maintain release of the gate latch means when the container is positioned for discharge abutting said member and wherein the gate latch means is biased to relatch the gate upon withdrawal of the container from its discharge position abutting said stop member.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the gate control means with the retraction of the ram means to ramming position, is adapted to temporarily maintain the gate in a closed position permitting relatching thereof by the latching means.

17. In a load carrying vehicle having an enclosed body with an opening therein for the receipt of bulk material, support means secured to the body adjacent said opening, a container for bulk material having a bottom opening gate for effecting discharge of the container contents when the container is positioned for discharge adjacent said support means, latch means for releasably securing the container gate, ram means carried by the support means for pivotal movement between a rearward receiving position with the upper extremity of the ram means displaced from the body for receipt and guidance of the bulk material contents of the container into the body through the opening therein and a forward retracted or ramming position in which the received bulk material is compacted and forced into the body by the ram means, said ram means comprising a lower ram pivotally secured at its lower end to the support means and an upper ram pivotally secured at its lower end to the upper end of the lower ram, means for actuating the ram means when the container is positioned for discharge, and gate control means for opening and closing the container gate in response to extension and retraction of the ram means as effected by the ram actuating means, which latter includes separate means for respectively actuating the upper and lower rams such that the upper ram is first pivoted rearwardly to overlap the front edge of the container gate whereupon the lower ram is pivoted rearwardly actuating the gate control means to effect the opening of the container gate, the upper and lower rams coacting with the container gate to form a skidway for directing the container contents into the vehicle body, whereafter the lower ram is caused to pivot forwardly to compact and ram said container contents forwardly of the vehicle body while at the same time actuating the gate control means to effect closure of the container gate, and the upper ram is thereafter pivoted forwardly to contact and ram the remainder of said container contents forwardly of the body.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the front portion of the container gate is downwardly curved to facilitate lapping thereof by the upper ram and wherein the gate control means includes an elongated arm pivotally secured to the support means carrying at its free end a roller adapted to track upon the underside of said gate and effect the opening and closing thereof.

19. In a load carrying vehicle having an enclosed body with an opening therein for the receipt of bulk material, support means secured to the body adjacent said opening, a container for bulk material having a bottom adapted for separation to permit discharge of the container contents through the container lower end, hoist means carried by the support means adapted to engage and lift the container upwardly to, a position for discharge, actuating means for the hoist means, ram means carried by the support means for pivotal movement between an extended or receiving position with the upper end of the ram means displaced from the body for receipt and guidance of the bulk material contents of the container into the body through the opening therein and a retracted or ramming position in which the received bulk material is compacted and forced into the body by the ram means, said ram means comprising a lower ram pivotally supported at its lower end by the support means and an upper ram pivotally secured at its lower end to the upper end of the lower ram, means for actuating the ram means, and container discharge control means for controlling container bottom separation responsive to extension and retraction of the ram means as effected by the ram actuating means, which latter includes means for actuating the upper and lower rams such that the ram means is pivoted into extended position before separation of the container bottom incident to discharge is permitted by the container discharge control means, the upper and lower rams thereupon coacting to form a skidway for directing the discharge container contents into the truck body, whereafter the ram means is caused to pivot into retracted position to compact and ram said contents into the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

